Mandarin tree named &#39;7-6-27&#39;

ABSTRACT

The new mandarin tree called ‘7-6-27’ arose from a seedling tree selected among a family of hybrids from a cross of the seed parent LB7-11 and pollen parent ‘Seedless Kishu’. The new tree produces annual crops of well-colored fruit that are essentially seedless, very easy to peel, mature early in the season, and are of excellent eating quality.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Citrus reticulata hybrid×Citrus kinokuni ‘Mukakukishu’

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘7-6-27’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct early maturing,seedless, and convenient-to-consume mandarin hybrid called ‘7-6-27’.This cultivar arose from a seedling tree selected among a family ofhybrids from a cross of the seed parent LB7-11 (an unnamed, unreleasedbreeding line, itself a hybrid of ‘Clementine’ mandarin crossed with‘Valencia’ sweet orange) and pollen parent ‘Seedless Kishu’ (known as‘Mukakukishu’ in Japan), an unpatented, small-fruited mandarin cultivar.The cross was made in Lake Alfred, Fla. in spring 2005, and the originalseedling tree was planted in the field in Lake Alfred, Fla. spring 2007.The cultivar was first selected in autumn 2013, when its distinctiveappearance and unique qualities were first noted, including thesignificantly greater-than-average health of the tree itself, which hasdemonstrated substantial field tolerance to Huanglongbing disease (HLBor citrus greening). ‘7-6-27’ was first asexually propagated in October2014 by topworking onto a citrus rootstock in Vero Beach, Fla.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘7-6-27’. This cultivar produces annual crops ofwell-colored fruit that are essentially seedless, very easy to peel,mature early in the season, and are of excellent eating quality. Thepresent botanical description is that of the variety grown as a 7-8year-old tree growing on its own roots in Lake Alfred, Fla. The colors(except those in common terms) are described using the R.H.S. ColourChart published by The Royal Horticultural Society in London (secondedition), in association with the Flower Council of Holland.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new mandarin hybrid tree is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the tree's form, foliage, and fruit. The colorsshown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventionalphotographic procedures. The photographs are of a tree approximately8-years old. FIGS. 1-3 were taken in the fall. FIGS. 4-5 were takenduring the early winter from the same tree.

FIG. 1—Shows the overall mature plant growth habit in the fall time.

FIG. 2—Shows mature fruits hanging on the tree; fruit and foliage inupper right corner of photo is from an adjacent tree, from a differenthybrid.

FIG. 3—Shows a close-up of leaves and mature fruits.

FIG. 4—Shows a close-up of the mature fruit.

FIG. 5—Shows a close-up of the mature fruit with the rind andcross-sectional view of the fruit when cut in the center.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Phenotypic Description of ‘7-6-27’-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Citrus reticulata hybrid×Citrus kinokuni            ‘Mukakukishu’.        -   Common name.—Mandarin hybrid or Tangerine.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—LB7-11, an unpatented, unreleased hybrid of            ‘Clementine’ mandarin×‘Valencia’ sweet orange.        -   Male parent.—‘Seedless Kishu’ (unpatented; also known as            ‘Mukakukishu’).-   Tree:    -   -   Ploidy.—Diploid.        -   Size.—Small to Medium.        -   Height.—2.7 m.        -   Tree spread.—1.8 to 2.2 m.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous.        -   Density.—Canopy is quite dense.        -   Form.—The tree has an obloid shape with lateral and upright            branches growing. Branches with fruit exhibit drooping.        -   Growth habit.—Both upright and lateral growth, with more            lateral growth.-   Trunk:    -   -   Trunk diameter.—8.7 cm in diameter at a height of 30 cm            above the ground, 7 year old tree.        -   Trunk texture.—Smooth.        -   Trunk bark color.—RHS 197A (greyed-green); irregularly            striated with RHS137B (green).-   Branches:    -   -   Crotch angle.—First crotch forms a 25- to 30-degree angle,            middle crotch forms a 35-degree angle.        -   Branch length.—Branch reaches 1.8 m from the first crotch to            the tip of the branch.        -   Branch texture.—Relatively smooth, occasionally with small            thorns or spines.        -   Branch color (shoots from previous flush, hardened and 4 to            5 mm in diameter).—RHS 138A (green).-   Leaves:    -   -   Size (lamina average).—Length: 103.5 mm Width: 52 mm L/W            ratio: 1.99.        -   Thickness.—Regular and average compared to commercial            mandarin hybrids.        -   Type.—Simple.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Apex.—Reuse.        -   Base.—Acute to sub-obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire and slightly undulate.        -   Surface.—Upper surface: Glabrous Lower surface: Medium veins            that are pinnately netted.        -   Color.—Upper surface (adaxial): RHS N137A (green) Lower            surface (abaxial): RHS 146A (yellow-green).        -   Petiole.—Shape: Brevipetiolate (shorter than leaf lamina);            junction between petiole and lamina is articulate. Width            (petiole wing): Very narrow Shape (petiole wing): Obovate            Length: 10.9 to 11.1 mm Width: 2.0 to 2.3 mm Color: RHS            N137A (green).-   Flowers and flower buds:    -   -   Type.—Hermaphrodite.        -   Bearing.—Flowers grow from leaf axillaries and leaf            terminals singly and in small clusters, single flower and            double flowers growing from leaf axillaries have been seen.            Each flower branch consists of 7-10 flowers.        -   Flower diameter.—Fully open flower has an average diameter            of 16.5 to 19 mm.        -   Flower depth.—Typical flower has an average depth of 10.3 to            10.6 mm.        -   Flower blooming period.—First bloom: Observed Mar. 1, 2014            Full bloom: Observed Mar. 12, 2014.        -   Flower bud size.—Length: Initial visible flower bud is 2.3            mm in length; mature flower bud is 9.4 mm in length.            Diameter: Initial visible flower bud is 2.5 mm in diameter;            mature flower bud is 4.9 mm in diameter. Shape: Initial            visible flower bud has round ball shape; mature flower bud            has elongated olive shape. Color: RHS 144B (yellow-green)            for initial visible flower bud; RHSNN155C (white) for mature            flower bud with RHS 150D (yellow-green) spots distributed at            tip of the flower bud.        -   Flower petals.—Shape: Flat, spatula shaped Apex shape:            Smooth, acute shaped Base shape: Even obtuse.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS NN155C (white) Lower surface: RHS            NN155C (white) with RHS 150D (yellow-green) spots            distributed toward to the petal apex. Margin: Smooth.        -   Sepal.—Number: 5 per flower Shape: Delta shaped with acute            angle at apex Length: 1.4 mm Width: 2.1 mm Apex shape:            Triangle shaped Margin: Smooth.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 149D yellow-green) Lower surface:            RHS 149C (yellow-green).        -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 5.2 to 5.4 mm Diameter: 0.7 to 0.8 mm            Color: RHS 143C (green).        -   Reproductive organs.—Fertility: Appears self-fertile Stamen            length: 5.0 to 5.2 mm Anther length: 1.1 mm Anther width:            0.5 to 0.6 mm Anther color: RHS 18A (yellow-orange) Anther            filament length: 3.7 to 3.8 mm Pollen amount: Moderate            Pollen color (general): RHS 14A (yellow-orange) Pistil            number: 1 Pistil length: 5.7 to 6.0 mm Pistil color: RHS 12B            (yellow) Style length: 4.6 mm Style diameter: 0.8 to 0.9 mm            Style color: RHS 150C (yellow-green) Ovary shape: Oval            shaped Ovary: diameter: 1.9 mm Ovary color: RHS 145A            (yellow-green).-   Fruit:    -   -   Size.—Uniform.        -   Tall.—49.5 to 51.4 mm on average.        -   Width.—59.7 to 62.5 mm on average.        -   Average weight (per individual fruit).—93.2 g.        -   Shape.—Round.        -   Shape (cross-section).—Round.        -   Apex.—Truncated with shallow dent.        -   Apex cavity diameter.—N/A.        -   Base.—Short neck or no neck with wrinkle.        -   Base cavity diameter.—5.7 to 6.1 mm.        -   Harvesting.—First pick around Oct. 15, 2014 (based on season            and rootstock); last pick around Dec. 15, 2014, although            fruit continue to hold on the tree for a longer time (based            on season and rootstock).        -   Fruit stem (short stem connecting the fruit).—Length: 5.4 mm            Diameter: 2.5 mm Color: RHS 199B (greyed-brown) with RHS            138A (green) strip.-   Skin:    -   -   Adherence.—Adherence between albedo (mesocarp) and flesh            (endocarp) is very loose, very easy to peel. The adherence            is evenly distributed from base to apex.        -   Thickness.—2.3 to 2.4 mm on average.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Flavedo (epicarp): Ranges between RHS N25B (orange)            to RHS N25A (orange). Albedo (mesocarp): RHS 23A            (yellow-orange).        -   Stylar end.—Closed.        -   Rind oil cell density.—224 oil cells/square cm.-   Flesh:    -   -   Number of segments.—Average between 10 and 11 segments per            fruit.        -   Segment walls.—Medium soft with sufficient strength to            maintain integrity as separated.        -   Juice.—Abundant.        -   Color.—Uniformly RHS 25A (orange).        -   Texture.—Firm to medium soft.        -   Vesicles.—Length: arranged from 11.5 to11.8 mm on average            Diameter (thickness): 3.2 to 3.4 mm on average.        -   Eating quality.—        -   Soluble solids (average).—11.6 Brix on Oct. 20, 2014; 12.5            Brix on Nov. 9, 2014.        -   Acidity (average).—0.81% on Oct. 20, 2014; 0.83 on Nov. 9,            2014        -   Ratio.—14.32 on Oct. 20, 2014; 15.06 on Nov. 9, 2014.-   Seeds: Seedless, although small but insignificant seed traces can be    found.-   Resistance to disease: The cultivar has demonstrated substantial    field tolerance of HLB; the block in which the hybrid was grown and    selected has been severely and uniformly challenged by this disease,    with nearly all trees symptomatic, severely declining, or already    dead. To date, the causal agent for HLB, Candidatus Liberibacter    asiaticus, has not been detected using the most sensitive qPCR    detection methodology. No rigorous systematic disease resistance    testing has been conducted, but the following observations have been    made in the field. In addition to severe HLB pressure in the field    plot where the original tree was grown, several other citrus    diseases common in Florida are endemic in the orchard, including    citrus canker (Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (synonym: X axonopodis    pv. citri)), Alternaria brown spot (Alternaria alternata), and    citrus scab (Elsinoe fawcettii). None of these diseases have been    observed on either foliage or fruit over 2.5 years of careful    observation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct mandarin tree called ‘7-6-27’as illustrated and described herein.